Tigerville, S.C.—The North Greenville women’s basketball team exploded for 46 points on 51.5% shooting and freshmen guard Tyler Powers scored a career high 18 points to lead all scorers, as the Crusaders cruised to a 68-54 win over the Flying Fleet of Erskine College.

Timisty Nelson and Alisha Hope were also in double figures for the Crusaders with 13 and 10 points. The win over the Fleet gave NGU its first Conference Carolinas win of the season (1-8) and third win overall (3-10). Erskine led by as many as seven in the first half, but the Crusaders continued to battle, and tied the game at 22 at intermission.

The second half stayed close, neither team grabbing a lead bigger than 6 for the first 13 minutes of the period. Erskine’s final edge came with 9:51 left on the clock. The Crusaders erased a once six point lead when Tierra Richberg’s mid range jumper found the bottom of the net, giving the Crusaders a 42-41 lead, with 9:41 left on the clock. It would be the final lead change of the game.

Richberg’s basketball sparked a North Greenville run that spanned the final 9 minutes of the game. The Crusaders cashed in on their hot shooting, burying 26 points to Erskine’s 13. Timisty Nelson paved the way for NGU with 10 points in the second half. Tyler Powers equaled her first half total with nine points while Ciera Anderson also posted 9 second half points. The Crusaders were 17 of 33 from the field in the second half including a 3 of 8 performance from behind the arch.

The Crusaders shot 41.7% from the field for the game while the Fleet shot just 35.6%. Erskine’s Sha’Niqua Whitney led the team with 15 points. Adrienne Bannerman and Tori Whittenberg were also in double figures for the Flying Fleet with 10 and 13 points. The Crusaders edged Erskine 28-20 in rebounds and 20-17 in bench points. The loss dropped the Flying Fleet to 0-15 on the season and 0-10 in league play.

The Crusaders will look to reel in their second conference win of the season on Thursday night when they take on Converse College in Hayes Gymnasium at 7pm.